Taking Back Sunday have long reigned as one of Alternative Rock’s most beloved and well recognized acts since they hit the scene at the start of the 21st century. The band is best known for their fan favorite debut, the 2002 release ‘Tell All Your Friends’. So when 2003 saw the departure of two key members of the band that crafted said album, it lead to a different chemistry that would go on to release the group’s next three records
Artwork for Taking Back Sunday’s new album “Happiness Is.”
In 2010, John Nolan and Shaun Cooper returned to Taking Back Sunday for their self-titled record in 2011. Now, three years later, Taking Back Sunday have arrived with their newest effort, ‘Happiness Is’; the band’s first release on Hopeless Records.
So why did I just spend a hundred words giving you a brief history of TBS? Because ‘Happiness Is’ marks a special moment in the life of this band. Well over a decade has passed since these five guys released an album that served to represent who they are as people at that time. The last time they did, it was something special. And while ‘Happiness Is’ doesn’t fully capture the magic that was TAYF, it does prove valiant as an honest glimpse at the creative energy that makes this group stand out.
Last year Taking Back Sunday left their former label to sign on with Hopeless, which offered the group a new level of freedom in their music. Perhaps it’s this very freedom that injected so much youthful energy into the DNA of the band’s latest work.
Songs like ‘Flicker, Fade’ and ‘Stood A Chance’ excel in painting the brighter hues that make Taking Back Sunday such a celebrated name. Energized vocals belting out tongue and cheek lyrics are stylishly complimented by a distinct emphasis on the instrumental weapons the band has to boast. Upbeat riffs, infectious drum blasts and rhythmic bass chords set a variety of warm and charismatic tones. Also, I’d be remiss not to note the rich harmony and enticing tricks boasted by ‘Happiness Is’ as a result of its producer, Mike Sapone; who is best known for his hand in Brand New’s three most recent records. Sapone produced five of the album’s eleven tracks. And trust me, if you’re a Brand New fan, you’ll have a good shot at guessing which ones are his.
Maybe one of the biggest things to take away from ‘Happiness Is’ is that it feels so upfront and organic. Every song 
plays like a page out of the story that these guys have been living for the last dozen years. Tracks like ‘Beat Up Car’, ‘Better Homes and Gardens’ and ‘Like You Do’ yield such a personal atmosphere with simplistic musical elements and a modest showing of storytelling chops. And while ‘Happiness Is’ offers so many little things to delight you with each song, the shortcoming it faces is that it never offers anything big.
Much of the album is an exercise in displaying the elements that make Taking Back Sunday a marquee name while exhibiting a more matured vision. But at the end of the day it rarely pushes the envelope of what this group can accomplish. And that will undoubtedly leave fans wanting just a little more.
Whether you’re a long time TBS fan or just someone looking for an upbeat, thoroughly enjoyable album, ‘Happiness Is’ won’t disappoint you. Ultimately, it’s an admirable testament to the five guys who set out to make their music fifteen year ago. Just don’t go in expecting to be surprised. Bands rarely strike gold more than once. A pleasant reminder of what made us all fall in love is nothing to scoff at.
